Tobi Adebayo
The Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi has challenged public office holders to declare their assets.
Adeyemi said this on Wednesday while contributing to a legislative debate on a bill to repeal “Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and enact the Money laundering (Prevention. And Prohibition) Act to provide a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for prevention and prohibition of money laundering in Nigeria.”
The Senator stated that all the Senators, Governors and other public office holders in the current administration should declare their assets if they “really mean to fight corruption.”
“There is no doubt that the present government has fought more corruption than any Government in the history of this country.
“There is no doubt that billions of dollars and pound sterling have been siphoned away from our system to foreign countries especially by those who have held political office in time past.
“In seconding this bill, I want to say we must also look at how we can enlarge the net in apprehending those who have siphoned money from this country.
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“In essence, this bill must take into consideration, public office holders and their immediate families who have properties abroad to give an account of how they acquired these properties.
“This country many people who have held public offices in time past siphoned money abroad where they acquired properties in the names of their wives and their children.
“I want to submit that there is a need to do an x-ray of all those who have held office in this Nigeria to look at how they have acquired their properties and their children and families, that is the only way we can be seen to be fighting corruption.
“Any public office holder in the past and present who have properties abroad and their children and their wives. It is not out of place for this bill to be all-encompassing so that we can know those who have acquired properties abroad with their children.
“Nigeria is bleeding now we must take the courage to ensure they release some of the properties they acquired.
“I said this without any contradiction, I don’t have any property abroad neither my children. Anybody that has acquired properties who has held public office before should give account,” Smart Adeyemi said.
